Tubing catcher



TUBING CATCHER Filed Feb.- 7, 1931 I l /A/// ////I ///X I 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I Jwomtm Oral C. Zach John J Dailqy,

duomwqd Aug. 30, 1932. o. c. zucK ET AL TUBING CATCHER Filed Feb. 7, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oral C. Zack J07? J. Dac'fey,

dflozmq Aug. 30, 1932. o. c. zucK ET AL 1,874,688

TUBING CATCHER Filed Feb. 7, 1931 :s Sheets-Sheet s gwtnntocs OraZOZucK 1.107777 J DaciCc' g,

dual/"4 1 Patented Aug. 30, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT! OFFICE ORAL C. Z'O'CK AND JOHN BAILEY, OF TULSA, OKLAHOMA, ASSIGNORS TO HANLON- WATERS, INCL, OF TULSA, OKLAHOMA TUBING cA'rcn'En Application filed February 7, 1931. Serial No. 514,254.

Our invention consists in new and useful improvements in a tubing catcher and has for its object to provide a device of this character which includes a minimum number of working parts, is extremely simple in construction and operation, and one which can be manufactured at an economical cost.

Another object and advantage of our improved tubing catcher is the accuracy and speed with which it takes effect in the event of an accident such as the breaking of a string of tubing. In other words, this tubing catcher functions immediately after an accident happens and thus does not permit a string of tubing to descend a suflicient distance in the casing to cause a buckling and twisting of the tubing.

A still further-object of our invention is to provide a device which in addition to serving as a tubing catcher in case of an accident,

may readily be employed in anchoring a string of tubing in the desired position in the well casing. With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, our invention consists in the novel features herein set forth, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings in which numerals of like character designate similar parts throughout the several views,

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation showing the tubing catcher in place on a section of tubing within a well casing, the latter being shown in section. In this view the tubing catcher is in inoperative position.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, showing the various elements which go to make up the tubing catcher.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the tubing catcher in its operative or casing-engaging position.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view take on line 4-4 ofFig. 1. I

Fig. 5 is a similar view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a-transverse sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 3, showing the slips in' tion, whereby the inner faces thereof are engaging position with the well casing.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the tubing catcher body in the course of assembly on a section of tubing, with thfe wedge slips and some of the spring members removed to more clearly illustrate the structure' of the body, and

Fig. 8 is a detail perspective of one of the wedge slips.

In the drawings, 1 represents one of a series of sections of tubing arranged at predetermined points in a string of tubing and provided with a mandrel 2, preferably formed integral with said section and tapering gradually toward the lower extremity thereof. This section of tubing 1 is connected to the string of tubing by means of suitable threaded collars or couplings 3 and 4, the

latter being adapted to serve the additional. purpose of a support for the tubing catcher '7 respectively, the former being adapted to engage and correspond with the tapered surface of the mandrel 2 when said mandrel is in its lowermost position as shown in Fig. 3. The longitudinal extremities of the body 5 are provided with annular flanges 8 and 9which project radially from the body, the flange 8 serving as a support forthe friction springs or strips 10 which are secured thereto at their upper ends by any suitable means such as bolts 11, the lower ends remaining free as clearly shown in the drawings. The-body portion of the carriage 5, is provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending slots 12 arranged at predetermlned points and adapted to receive inwardly projecting lugs or pins 13 of a series of wedge slips 14, the outer faces of said slips being provided with transversely arranged teeth 15 for engaging.

adapted to register ;with and slideably engage the outer inclined face 7 of the carriage 5, in which position the inwardly projecting lugs or pins 13 operatively engage the mandrel 2 through the slots 12." The transverse extremities of the wedge slips 14 are reduced in thickness to form relatively thin wings 17, each of which when a plurality of slips are assembled on the carriage 5, lies adjacent a corresponding wing on the next slip.

18 represents a plurality of spring strips or supporting means secured at their lower ends to the flange 9 of the carriage 5 by bolts 19 or other suitable means, their upper ends being free and each slideably engaging the adjacent wings 17 of the slips 14.

In order to provide for the free passage of fluid and gas through the casing, the flanges 8 and 9 may be recessed at a plurality of points around their peripheries as at 20, and as a further means to facilitate such gas and fluid passage, the inner face 6 of the body 5 may be longitudinally grooved as at 21, whereby although the mandrel '2 may be in its lowermost position closely engaging the inner surface 6 of the body 5, the grooves 21 will afl'ord a passageway for the up-going gas or, fluid.

In assembling our improved tubing catcher the section of tubing 1 carrying the mandrel 2 is inserted'within the central opening of the slip carriage or body 5. The slips 14 are then placed with their concave surfaces against the outer inclined face 7v of the body 5, the projections or pins 13 extending through the slots 12, the lower edges of said slips resting upon the upper surface of the flange 9. The supporting or guiding strips 18 are then secured in place on the flange 9 by bolts 19, with their upper free ends slideably engaging the adjacent wings 17 of the slips 14, said guide strips being under sufficient inward tension to secure the slips 14 in place on the carriage 5 and yet allowing a suflicient sliding movement of the slips to permit the satisfactory operation of the device as hereinafter described. The friction springs 10 are then secured in place on the flange 8 by means of bolts 11 with their lower ends free and under a normally outward tension for continuous engagement with the inner wall of the casing 16 when the string of tubing is inserted thereinr These friction springs extend downwardly to 91-point below the lower extremity of the body or carriage 5 and lie adjacent to, but spaced apart from, the guidestrips 18 as clearly shown in the drawings. The collar 4 is now screwed .in

place on the lower end of the section of tubing 1, thus preventing the body or carriage 5 and the parts assembled thereon from slipping down over the end of th1s section of tubing.

The string of tubing is then assembled with a series of tubing catchers interposed the respective collar 4, and the slips 14 in i their lowermost positions and clear of the inner walls of the casing 16, the parts being in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2. As long as the parts remain in these relative positions and the tubing is slowly lowered in the well, the slips remain inoperative,

but should the string of tubing break within the casing and start to fall, these relative positions change as shown in Fig. 3. Due to the difference in weight and inertia, and in view of the fact that the downward travel of the slip carriage is retarded by the friction springs 10 bearing against the casing 16, the string of tubing and with it the mandrel 2 descends at a far greater rate of speed than the tubing catcher assembly. Thus as the mandrel moves downwardly within the body 5, its tapering wall engages the inner ends of the projections or pins 13 and immediately forces the slips outwardly and wedges the same in biting engagement with the inner wall of the casing 16, thus preventing the further downward travel of the string of tubing. The upward travel of the slips is limited by'the flange 8 and the slots 12.

It will be noted that the tapered or inclined inner face 6 of the body 5 fits snugly against the tapered or inclined face of the mandrel and when the slips 14 are extended of tubing from the casing, the upward movement of the mandrel releases the outward pressure on the slips and permits the same to resume their normal inoperative position, and the body 5 again rests upon collar 4.

This tubing catcher can be run intoany hole, and as it is short and compact, a crooked hole offers no particular interference with its operation and as is obvious from the above description, the structure is extremely sensitlve in operation. In fact experiments have shown that this tubing catcher will function within a drop of from one to. three inches which is extremely quick for this type of apparatus.

In addition to servin as a tubing catcher during'the insertion o a string of tubing 3 in the casing, this device functions with equal eflect as a tubing anchor for retaining the tubing in place after its desired location has been determined. Its operation in this connection may either be brought about by a quick short drop of the string of tubing to set the slips against the casing and retain the string in place, or, if desired, a suitable setting device may be employed for automatically causing the tubing catcher to function at a predetermined point in the casing.

As hereinbefore mentioned, the body 5 is provided with a number of recesses or slots 20 in the flanges 8 and 9 to permit the passage of gas and fluid past the body and casing, and the longitudinally extending grooves 21 on the inner face of the body to permit the passage of gas and fluid past the body and mandrel when the tubingcatcher is in locked position.

From the foregoing it is believed that the advantages and operation of our improved tubing catcher will be readily understood by those skilled in the art without further description, it being borne in mind that numerous changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A. tubing catchercom rising a tapered mandrel, a body portion adapted to slidably engage said mandreland having a surface engageable with and disengageable from the tapered surface of the mandrel, a plurality of gripping members carried by said body portion and having means extending through said body portion to operatively engage said mandrel.

2. In combination with a well tubing, a tapered mandrel carried by said tubing, a body portion slidably mounted on said man drel and having a surface engageable with and disengageable from the tapered surface of the mandrel, a plurality of gripping members carried by said body portion, means on said gripping members extending transversely through said body portion for operatively engaging said mandrel, and means carried by said body portion for retarding the downward movement thereof in a well casing.

3. In combination with a well tubing, a tapered mandrel carried by said tubing, a correspondingly tapered body portion slideably mounted on said mandrel the tapered surface of said body portion being engageable with and disengageable from the tapered surface of said mandrel, a plurality of wedge slips carried by said body portion and having inwardly projecting lubs extending transversely through said body portion and adapted to operatively engage said mandrel, means on said tubing for suporting said body portion in inoperative position, and.

means on said body portion for retarding the relative downward movement of said body portion with respect to said tubing when the latter is being lowered into a well casing.

4:. In combination with a well tubing, a tapered mandrel carried by said tubing, a body portion slideably mounted on said mandrel and having a substantially correspondingly tapered surface, said body portion being provided with a series of substantially vertical slots extending through said tapered surface, a plurality of parti-circular wedge slips carried by said body portion and having inwardly projecting lugs adapted to ex tend through said slots to operatively engage said mandrel, means on said tubing for supporting said body portion in inoperative position, and means on said body portion for retarding its relative downward movement with respect to said tubing when the latter is being lowered into a well casing.

5. The combination as claimed in claim 4 wherein said parti-circular wed e slips lie annularly around the outer surface of said body portion, and means on said body portion slideably engaging said slips for retaining the same in place.

6. In combination with a well tubing, a;

tapered mandrel carried by said tubing, a body portion encircling said tubing and adapted to slidably engage said mandrel,-

said body portion having inner and outer wedge surfaces and being provided with a series of vertically extending slots, a plurality of gripping members carried around said body portion and having inwardly projecting lugs adapted to extend through said slots for wedging engagement with said mandrel, the outer faces of said gripping members being formed with a series of gripping teeth and their inner faces being inclined to correspond with and engage the outer wedge surface of said body portion, means on said tubing forv supporting said body portion in inoperative position, and means on said body portion for retarding its relative downward movement with respect to said tubing, when the latter is being lowered into a well casing.

7. The combination as claimed in claim 6 including means on said body portion slideably engaging said gripping members for retaining the same in place.

8. A tubing catcher comprising a body portion having a tapered surface, a plurality of wedge slips loosely carried on said body portion and capable of vertical movement thereon, a tapered mandrel located within said body portion and adapted to move vertically with respect thereto, into and out of wedging engagement therewith and means on said wedge slips extending transverse-1y through i mined distance relative to said body portion, said wedge, slips will be expanded.

9. In combination with a well tubing, a tapered mandrel carried by said tubing, an annular body portion having inner and outer tapered surfaces, the former being adapted to wedgedly engage said tapered mandrel, a plurality of wedge slips loosely carried by said body portion to' wedgedly engage its outer tapered surface, means on said wedge slips extending transversely through said and means on said body portion slideably engaging said wings for retaining said slip in place on said body portion.

11. A tubing catcher comprising a tapered mandrel, a body portion adapted to slidably engage said mandrel and having a surface engageable with and disengageable from the tapered surface of the mandrel, a plurality of gripping members carried by said body portion and having means extending through said body portion to operatively engage said mandrel, said gripping members lying around the outer face of said body portion. their transverse extremities being reduced in thickness to form wings, and means on said body portion slidably engaging said wings for retaining said gripping members in place on the body portion.

12. A tubing catcher comprising an annularbody portion, a plurality of gripping members carried by said body portion and lying around its annular face, an expanding member, means on said gripping members extending transversely .through said body portion to operatively engage said expanding member, the transverse extremities of each of said gripping members being reduced in thickness to form wings, and means on said body portion slidably engagingsaid wings for retaining said gripping members in place on said body portion.

13. A tubing catcher comprising a plurality of gripping members, an expanding memher, a body portion encircling said expand-- ing member and interposed between the latter and said gripping members, and means on said gripping members extending trans- Versely through said body portion to operatively engage said expanding member.

14:. A tubing catcher comprising an inner expanding element, a gripping element com teraeee prising a plurality of gripping members, an intermediate annular body portion encircling said inner element and interposed between the latter and said gripping element, means on one of said elements extending transversely through said body portion for engaging the other element, whereby when said expanding element is moved downwardly a predetermined distance relative to said body portion, said gripping members will be expanded.

15. In combination with a well tubing, an expanding member, a plurality of wedge slips encircling said expanding member, an annular body portion loosely carried on said tubing and capable of longitudinal movement thereon, said body portion being interposed between said wedge slips and said expanding member, inwardly projecting lugs on said slips extending transversely through said body portion and adapted to engage said expanding member to expand said slips,

means on said tubing for supporting said body portion in inoperative position, and means on the body portion for retarding the relative movement of said body portion with respect to said tubing when the latter is being lowered into a well casing.

16. In combination with a well tubing, an inner expanding element carried by said tubing, a gripping element comprising a plurality of gripping members encircling said expanding element, an intermediate annular body portion encircling said expanding element and interposed between the latter and said gripping element, means on one of said elements extending transversely through said body portion for operatively engaging the other element, means on said tubing for supporting said body portion in inoperative position,-and means carried by said body portion for retarding its downward movement with respect to said tubing when the latter is being lowered into a well casing.

In testimony whereof We affix our signatures.

JOHN J. DAILEY. ORAL C. ZUCK. 

